Discussion
It's that everything just gels together and feels 'real' the banter is work banter, everyone knows their job and does it, all the characters act consistently. You don't get a sudden long exposition from someone about their family back home 5minutes after meeting. You know what everyone can do before it becomes critical. That Ripley can drive a power loader is established early on in an apparently throw away scene, she is trained to use the guns/trackers. We know Newt uses the tunnels before they have to use them to escape.
Hereward said:
Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?
No, have you?
i say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbitNo, have you?
Alien 3 - as i said, i liked it, for sure i didnt like the Newt kill off - its like they had a premise for an Alien movie and then shoehorned in Ripley's situation - they also killed of Hicks too.
if only this had got made
"District 9 film-maker reveals plans to ignore unpopular sequels Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection in order to take the franchise back to ‘a Freudian kind of nightmare’"
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/26/alien...
SW was onboard for that also I seem to recall. Would have been an interesting direction. Certainly couldn't have been worse than AR and everything that followed (I do actually quite like A3 for all its flaws).
Prometheus and Covenant are both sumptuous, beautiful big screen flicks with Scott's trademark visual flair all over them - but just sh*t, stilted scripts and largely wooden performances that gave no credence or believability to the characters portrayed (some supporting cast especially).
Some exceptions of course but I think both were massive style over substance exercises. Covenant in particular is a mish mash of Scott's god theory efforts on Prometheus not resonating with fans and as a result him trying to get as much Xenomorph familiarity in there as he could whilst still trying to go back over the previous film's themes. It's disjointed and just doesn't work or flow in the way that both Alien and Aliens did - despite them having very different pacing.
I actually like the extra scenes from Aliens in the special edition, but you can see how they were cut from the theatrical release without feeling that you lost something. For me, the sentry gun sequences were quite tense and powerful for example and I like the film just as much with them in. Would have liked to see the Burke cocoon sequence left in, and Bishop's encounter with the alien in the tunnel would have been cool (though not sure they ever actually filmed that or if it is just internet rumour)?
I went to see Alien at my local independent cinema in 2019 (it was a one night only anniversary showing) and it was amazing to me to notice other audience members genuinely jumping at some of the dramatic shocks. Granted some of them may never have seen the film before but it's still hard to believe that a 40 year old film still had that sort of power in but it certainly did. Quality of the workmanship I guess. Still looked fantasic on the big screen and the atmospheric score was great in such a small auditorium.
All IMO of course
Prometheus and Covenant are both sumptuous, beautiful big screen flicks with Scott's trademark visual flair all over them - but just sh*t, stilted scripts and largely wooden performances that gave no credence or believability to the characters portrayed (some supporting cast especially).
Some exceptions of course but I think both were massive style over substance exercises. Covenant in particular is a mish mash of Scott's god theory efforts on Prometheus not resonating with fans and as a result him trying to get as much Xenomorph familiarity in there as he could whilst still trying to go back over the previous film's themes. It's disjointed and just doesn't work or flow in the way that both Alien and Aliens did - despite them having very different pacing.
I actually like the extra scenes from Aliens in the special edition, but you can see how they were cut from the theatrical release without feeling that you lost something. For me, the sentry gun sequences were quite tense and powerful for example and I like the film just as much with them in. Would have liked to see the Burke cocoon sequence left in, and Bishop's encounter with the alien in the tunnel would have been cool (though not sure they ever actually filmed that or if it is just internet rumour)?
I went to see Alien at my local independent cinema in 2019 (it was a one night only anniversary showing) and it was amazing to me to notice other audience members genuinely jumping at some of the dramatic shocks. Granted some of them may never have seen the film before but it's still hard to believe that a 40 year old film still had that sort of power in but it certainly did. Quality of the workmanship I guess. Still looked fantasic on the big screen and the atmospheric score was great in such a small auditorium.
All IMO of course
Kes Arevo said:
Bishop's encounter in the tube was part of Alan Dean Foster's novel adaption, which I presume was derived from a script at some point.
They are actually quite good little novels, and he's done a few of them, along with Outland, which reeks strongly of the same universe.
Can someone roughly run us all through this little encounter in the tunnel? Can't imagine how he would have survived that.They are actually quite good little novels, and he's done a few of them, along with Outland, which reeks strongly of the same universe.
Lincsls1 said:
Kes Arevo said:
Bishop's encounter in the tube was part of Alan Dean Foster's novel adaption, which I presume was derived from a script at some point.
They are actually quite good little novels, and he's done a few of them, along with Outland, which reeks strongly of the same universe.
Can someone roughly run us all through this little encounter in the tunnel? Can't imagine how he would have survived that.They are actually quite good little novels, and he's done a few of them, along with Outland, which reeks strongly of the same universe.
Lincsls1 said:
Can someone roughly run us all through this little encounter in the tunnel? Can't imagine how he would have survived that.
It's been a long while since I read it, but it memory serves it was a opening in the tunnel where one of the xenos reaches in. Think it describes them banging on the outside as well. 
Olivera said:
Kes Arevo said:
Done well, physical miniatures, forced perspective, etc, works a lot better than CGI.
Good point, could Alien and Aliens hold up in part because they don't use CGI at all? I think that may well be true.A Winner Is You said:
Even today, CGI creatures or vehicles lack the weight and momentum of a real model or puppet. It's at its best when not at the forefront, such as removing wires or adding background details.
I’ve heard that said often in interviews with filmmakers. Whenever possible CGI should be used to assist practical effects and stunts, not replace them. However, practical effects, like CGI, can vary greatly in quality depending on the talent (and budget) involved.
SpudLink said:
A Winner Is You said:
Even today, CGI creatures or vehicles lack the weight and momentum of a real model or puppet. It's at its best when not at the forefront, such as removing wires or adding background details.
I’ve heard that said often in interviews with filmmakers. Whenever possible CGI should be used to assist practical effects and stunts, not replace them. However, practical effects, like CGI, can vary greatly in quality depending on the talent (and budget) involved.
Independence Day still looks good as well, probably one of the last blockbusters to rely on mainly practical effects. Conversely I recently watched Midway by the same director and it was just s
t being thrown at the screen, so much going on you can't keep track, and physics right out of a video game,.
t being thrown at the screen, so much going on you can't keep track, and physics right out of a video game,. A Winner Is You said:
Independence Day still looks good as well, probably one of the last blockbusters to rely on mainly practical effects. Conversely I recently watched Midway by the same director and it was just st being thrown at the screen, so much going on you can't keep track, and physics right out of a video game,.
I think that's the problem with over the top CGI. Rather than do enough to make it realistic, they go way overboard and ruin the whole thing by adding absurd stuff.t being thrown at the screen, so much going on you can't keep track, and physics right out of a video game,. Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff